# quicksand

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkwɪkˌsænd/ · frequency rank #42,842

## Definitions
1. Wet sand that appears firm but in which things readily sink, often found near rivers or coasts.
2. Anything that metaphorically pulls one down or buries one; a treacherous, risky danger

## Etymology
From Middle English quyksande, from Old English cwecesand (“quicksand”), equivalent to quick (“living”) + sand. Cognate with Swedish kvicksand (“quicksand”), Icelandic kviksandur, kviksyndi (“quicksand”). More at quick, sand.

## Common misspellings (14)
`qiucksand`, `qquicksand`, `quciksand`, `quiccksand`, `quickasnd`, `quickksand`, `quicksadn`, `quicksandd`, `quicksannd`, `quicksnad`, `quickssand`, `quicskand`, `quikcsand`, `uqicksand`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/quicksand